How to Negotiate at Garage Sales (2024)

FAQs

How to Negotiate at Garage Sales? ›

When you walk up with an item to negotiate on - have another item or two in mind that are at the same sale. If you reach an impasse on the price of the item - agree to pay what they are asking if they throw in the other item. You've given them a way to win - they got the price they were asking.

Sellers are ready to part with their things, so it's perfectly acceptable to haggle on pricing, especially if you are interested in a high-dollar item or have a grouping of things. Either ask the seller if they can lower the price or feel free to make an offer. However, don't suggest too low a price.

The 10% Rule

Sometimes, math is simple. For an easy pricing guide, try the 10% rule where you price whatever item it is that you're selling for 10% of its original cost. So, if you bought that lamp for $20 at Target five years ago, try to sell it for $2.

Although not everyone puts price tags on their garage sale merchandise, pricing your merchandise in advance will make the day of the sale less hectic for you. Additionally, it may make customers more likely to buy.

Consider how much cash you'll need on hand to make change for attendees and stop by the bank ahead of time. Conventional advice is to have at least $100 cash available to make change.

Another significant downside is that a garage sale is a lot of work. Successful garage sales involve (and require) a lot of preparation like making signs, placing ads, getting permits, pricing items, and getting up before dawn on the day of the sale to set everything up.

For the best attendance, choose a Saturday or Sunday morning between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., when temperatures are cooler. If you can have a two-day sale, that's an even better way to maximize your profits. Make sure to check the weather forecast, too, before you set your date in stone.

“Tools almost always do well at garage sales,” said Bakke. “And really tools of any kind — power tools, yard tools, you name it. Just make sure you have an outlet available for testing, and if selling cordless tools, make sure the batteries are charged.”

The right items bought at garage sales are often resold for an average profit of 462% each. As long as you know what to look out for, and who to sell it to, flipping garage sales (and yard sales, and flea markets!) is a clever and easy way to really line your pockets.

For the smaller items that won't bring in much cash, make a separate "make a deal" table with no prices. Donate the excess. Have paper shopping bags and charge $5 to fill a bag. $1 for everything else and group cheaper items into small bags for $1.

What is the best day for a garage sale? ›

Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings are usually the best time to hold a successful garage sale. Consider scheduling your sale on the first weekend of the month—when people have just gotten paid and haven't spent all their fun money yet.

Sometimes I've started with only $30 but always make sure and have the 10 $1 bills because a lot of people will buy a one or two dollar item and give you a five. I also make sure I have a few more $1's and $5's in the house in case I need them.

A safe starting point for most vendors is to keep $100 in change on hand. This should be a mix of tens, fives, and ones to ensure you can provide change for a variety of transaction amounts.

Post your garage sale flyers around the neighborhood a few days before the yard sale. Make sure to place them in high-traffic areas like marts, parks, office elevators, and churches so people will see them. You can also ask your friends and family to help out.

Advertise your sale

It's best to target the people living in your neighbourhood, but do take advantage of free advertising on social media as well to let others know about your garage sale. If you have friends and family who may have an interest in some of your items, it might be a good idea to contact them first.